April 14th, 2026

Names: 

• Mia Cruz 
  • Strengths: Planning, research
  • Weaknesses: public speaking
• Noel Vazquez-M  

      –    Strengths: Organization, research, outlining 

      –    Weaknesses: Procrastination,  

• Fernando Navarrete 
  • Strengths: outlining, 
  • Weaknesses: research, formal writing, 
• Noman Saqib 

     –      Strengths: Public Speaking , Research 

     –      Weaknesses: None

• Ishad Zaman 
  • Strengths: speaking, research, editing, formal language, formatting
  • Weaknesses: deadlines. procrastination

      – Enoch Bratton Ortiz 

               – Strengths: speaking, pictures, researching, presenting 

               – Weaknesses: Procrastination 

Problem: Renewable Energy storage limitations:

• renewable energy sources prone to power fluctuations, which can cause damage to grid
  • Energy storage helps to smooth out these fluctuations and stabilize supply
    • Large-scale batteries
    • Flywheels
  • Will assist in making renewables much more viable
    • Reduces oil dependence
      • no more tax dollars to genocidal campaigns overseas
      • Energy independence
      • More sustainable
      • Not single-use (cf. fossil fuels)
      • More robust

Potential resource/videos/etc:

How 40-Ton Spinning Wheels Are Saving the Power Grid

Why This Solar Breakthrough Matters More Than Perovskite

Are Heat Pumps a Scam?

Why Everyone’s Wrong About This Solid-State Battery

Videos/articles specific to issues with renewable energy storage

Connecting Solar to the Grid is Harder Than You Think

How to Fix Renewable Energy’s Hidden Infrastructure Problem | WSJ Pro Perfected

New energy storage technology on the verge of a breakthrough? | Transforming Business

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dcas/downloads/pdf/energy/reportsandpublication/LL181_FY23.pdf

https://iee.psu.edu/news/blog/transitioning-renewable-energy-challenges-and-opportunities

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/key-global-energy-issues-including-renewables/193303

https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/renewable_energy

https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2026/04/14/developers-warn-of-canceling-major-renewable-projects-as-public-power-advocates-push-state-response/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2026/04/14/iran-war-ev-democrats-renewable-energy-policy/89518724007

https://ecologiclife.com/what-are-some-of-the-issues-with-renewable-energy.html

Tech Connections: You are being misled about renewable energy technology.

Responsibilities:

1. Research
   1. Everyone
2. Problem
   1. Mia, Ishad
3. Abstract, and introduction
   1. Noel, Fernando
4. Later–Slides and how to divide
   1. Ishad–comfortable with public speaking, can take on more slides if needed

Which solution (by Wednesday morning): battery or fly-wheel 

Meet up to discuss: Thursday NAC library 12PM

Advantages of flywheels

• Solar PV energy demand growth forms largest share of energy demand growth worldwide (https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/the-big-headlines-from-the-ieas-global-energy-review-2026)
• Renewable energy supply outpaced fossil fuel supply this year (https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2026/)
• Lifetimes of several decades with minimal maintenance (https://web.archive.org/web/20140606223717/http://sciencewriter.org/flywheels-spinning-into-control/)
• High specific energy: 360-500kJ/kg (https://web.archive.org/web/20100710052927/http://www.pddnet.com/article-next-gen-of-flywheel-energy-storage/)
  • Energy stored per unit mass
• Typical energy storage spec ranges from ~11kJ to ~480kJ
• Round-trip efficiency of up to 90% (citation needed)
• Helpful places to start reading:
  • https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/home/stories/flywheels-for-electranet-substation.html 
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_storage_power_system
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X25013878
  • https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/7/3/286
    • In-depth analysis of bidirectional power conversion
  • https://sci-hub.st/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2016.05.011
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X23003651
    • Economic comparison of flywheel vs battery storage system in a minigrid
  • https://sci-hub.st/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101382
    • Economic model of flywheel storage facility design
    • Estimates costs of each component, specifies materials, etc.
  • https://sci-hub.st/10.1109/CJECE.2015.2420995
    •  
  • Professional Examples of Project proposals:
    • https://files.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/4812/files/2024/04/Institute-of-Food-Technologists-RFP-sample.pdf
    • https://files.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/4812/files/2024/04/sample_proposal-solar-house-v-tech.pdf
    • https://files.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/4812/files/2024/04/mechanical-engineering-project-proposal-example-u-of-moratuwa-hovercraft.pdf
    •  

Disadvantages

• Slim chance of catastrophic failure in event of flywheel coming off of bearings
  • High kinetic energy = life threatening and dangerous to surrounding infrastructure

Considerations:

• Generally split into two regimes
  • Low speed
    • Up to 10k RPM
    • Usually made of much heavier material
      • Usually steel
    • Lower cost
  • High speed
    • Up to 100k RPM
    • Made of stronger, more lightweight material
      • Carbon fiber
      • Other composites
    • Higher cost
    • Requires magnetic bearings
      • Could look into HTS magnets?